activeLife Trainer: Product and Design Philosophy

For thousands of years, human work naturally involved physical movement. Ailments such as high blood pressure and diabetes are virtually unknown in hunting and gathering societies, but modern humans are at great risk of developing them. ActiveLife Trainer’s product philosophy is to restore the freedom of physical movement in modern office work settings. With activeLife Trainer, office workers can leisurely stroll through the work day. This under desk elliptical exercise machine’ has a product design which pays tribute to the ancient “Yin-Yang” symbol which signifies overcoming seeming contradictions to signal the symbiosis of mental and physical activity.

For thousands of years, human work naturally involved physical movement. Whether hunting, gathering, or working around the homestead, humans were constantly moving throughout most of the day. Since then, sedentary work has become the norm. As recently as the 1960s, the average worker burned 100 kcal more every day while working. Not surprisingly, modern ailments such as high blood pressure and diabetes were virtually unknown in ancient societies, but modern humans are at great risk of developing them. Physical activity during leisure time can offset these risks to a certain degree, but extended bouts of sedentary work actually present a health risk independent of exercising.

The product philosophy that guided the development of activeLife Trainer attacks this problem at its origin: the sedentary workplace. This elliptical under-desk exercise machine allows office workers to literally stroll through their work day. This is not intended as a substitute for aerobic exercise or gym time, but as a complement to regular physical activity outside of working hours. Active Life Trainer’s design philosophy also mirrors this purpose.

The black and white product design pays tribute to the ancient Buddhist “Yin-Yang” symbol. It symbolizes the melding and overcoming of seemingly contradictory properties, such as light and dark. This symbol was chosen because activeLife Trainer allows a healthful symbiosis of largely mental ‘brain work’ at the desk with physical ‘leg work’ under the desk, all without compromising either.